Monthly Archives: July 2019

a considered life…

Posted in decluttering, Flylady, home stuff, minimalism, Uncategorized by

All in all, we choose what our lives look like.

Sometimes, that is hard to see because perhaps it doesn’t really reflect who we are. To start, we need to ask ourselves, “what do I want my life to be/look like?”

I’ve been thru many different phases of my life. Young wife, mother, older mother, older wife. You get the idea. I also went thru lots of phases with decor from shabby chic, to lots of old furniture, and our more esthetic period when all I wanted was a Japanese farmhouse. ( well, I still would love that). But, really everyone’s life has phases and we are all at different points in the journey.

 I started my minimalistic journey with Flylady.  I was really in need of a system to help organize my house, housekeeping, cooking, etc.  I also was on Revlimid( a chemo pill for myeloma) and a very intense steroid( Dexamethasone). So I either had limited energy or the Dex was making me hyper and a bit crazy. So that’s when I started Flylady as her 15-minute rule worked perfectly for me. Basically, get a timer and set for 15 minutes and do the zone cleaning or decluttering.  Sometimes that was all I could do.

Since I decluttered thousands of things, each zone really only takes me 15 minutes max except the kitchen which takes generally an hour.  I don’t spend hours a week cleaning or tidying because the bulk of it is done in the zone cleaning. I do vacuum multiple times a week though and dust with a Swiffer.

There are some areas that I would still like to change such as moving some of the Heywood furniture in the living area but for now, that’s where they live.

One of the biggest game-changer for me was to finally be okay with our small house. It’s old, takes a lot of upkeep overall, it’s got a weird layout. ( There’s no real entryway). But it’s what we have and we do not want to move. Of course, circumstances do change if it became necessary we would move.

So I am grateful for this ‘considered life’ that we have created for ourselves.

Simple Sunday

Posted in cooking, Flylady, MDS, Myeloma, simple foods, Uncategorized by

Wowza, it is hot!

We’re hitting the 101 mark today and I have the coolers on already at 75.

I just finished the LR zone and am deciding whether to go to the gym. I don’t want to aggravate my rib pain. Plus, I’m trying to decide whether this merits an x-ray.  If it’s a pulled muscle then it’ll slowly get better. If it’s a rib fracture, the question would be why? So, I think I’ll wait and see how it is tomorrow. I told my husband, that I’m pretty sure this happened last year but can’t find any notes relating to it.

I’m making a new recipe tonight ‘Roman Chicken’ that’s from Food Network. Mostly it’s just chicken, peppers, capers, onions and tomatoes. Not sure what makes it “Roman” but I’ll try it.

I finished a good mystery by Baldacci; ” The Fix”. It was a good spy mystery. Now I don’t have any books left so I may need to go down to the pet bookstore and see if there’s anything there.

It’s now later, and I decided NOT to go to the gym. Sunday is my favorite day there as all the regulars aren’t there. Plus there are no jump around classes although there is a yoga class.

B has two appts this week. Getting his orthopedic boot on Monday and Tuesday is clinic. His counts all went down a little but I guess that’s to be expected.

 

Friday stuff…

Posted in cooking, Myeloma, Uncategorized by

It’s been a nice week overall except for the heat. It’s supposed to be the hottest today and tomorrow. I do not do well in the heat. No motivation.

I also pulled a muscle in my ribcage although it could be an old rib fracture acting up. Either way, I limited my activity level. I don’t think it could be a new rib fracture(myeloma-related) as my numbers are still so low and just barely out of the normal range. But all things are possible.  Besides, what can you do? I’ll check with my doctor when I see him in August about some Xrays. Rib fractures are very common with Multiple Myeloma so I suppose it’s possible.

I’m going to go to the gym and just use the Treadmill and then we need to go to the feed store. I do need a few things from Target but I’m resisting going as I haven’t been in there since before I went to Sacto. But I do need new shower curtains:(

I made homemade falafels last night and they were yummy. here’s the link

I use Downshiftology’s recipes a lot and they are always delicious.  My daughter made the Tziki and it was grated cucumber instead of chunks and delicious. Plus there was tahini sauce which I love.

Tonight is pizza night but I think it’s too hot to turn the oven on so we will order something.

 

A certain feeling…

Posted in decluttering, home stuff, minimalism, simplicity, social security, Uncategorized by

I’ve been working on letting go of even more things that are just not essential.

When I was in Sacramento for those 2 1/2 almost 3 weeks, I had only what was most important and essential. There was the Mr. Coffee I bought for the RV, 2 cups, a sharp knife from Ikea, and a few other things.

I’m a sensory/visual person which is why I’m so attracted to minimalism. I get anxiety if there is too much stuff around me or on shelves. So down at the RV, visually it was very simple and undecorated.

And I had a FEELING about it. It was something I could tell was a subtle elusive thing. When I got home, with everything going on, it took a few weeks to get back to routines. Then I had that elusive feeling pop up. It was very fleeting and then I stopped and really examined what I was feeling.

It was to have around you only those things you love or use.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, Flylady, Lake tahoe, Uncategorized by

Our weather is heating up this week. Even though we will get to the upper 90’s the humidity here in California is quite low. It must be brutal to have 95-degree weather with 95% humidity or whatever they are having thru most of the country.  I remember growing up in New York and the humidity in the summer was awful.  Even though I moved to Tucson in 1970, and the temperatures were 110 in the summer, there was almost no humidity. I’ll take that any day.

I went to the gym this morning and it was perfect with almost no people.  Ha, Ha, the introvert that I am. But seriously, on Monday mornings it is a zoo in there and sometimes you can’t even get to a machine without 3 other people heading you off.

I picked up a nice stack of books at the pet bookstore to read this week or next couple of weeks. I found a good copy of Hemmingway’s ‘ The Sun Also Rises’.

Last night I made an orzo salad with our own cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. I also added our own basil. It was good. I had some shredded chicken on the side for the meat-eaters. I’m not feeling too inspired tonight to cook, so we’ll see what happens. I do have a menu plan for the week including homemade chicken enchiladas but I don’t feel like that tonight.

I worked in the Bedroom zone this morning and it’s almost done. Sunday is my sheet day, so they are washed and ready to put back on the bed. I’m loving linen sheets and if you’re in the market for new sheets, definitely check out linen. They are wonderful to sleep on. This set is the one from Ikea I bought to use in the RV.

Our week doesn’t look overly busy so that will be nice. We even may take a drive up to Tahoe just to see the lake and sit for a while. I really miss going up there this time of year and camping. But it is what it is and there will be next year.IMG_1147

Five on Friday

Posted in books, cooking, Flylady, reading, Uncategorized by

Another good week.

The doctor’s appt went well and he’s graduated to doing clinic just once a week. That’s really great. His labs all look good and the prednisone is controlling the diarrhea. I’m pretty sure it was a mild case of Graft vs Host in the gut but it’s under control now. He will slowly taper off the prednisone next week.

I used the IP again and made polenta and the next night did chili. I guess as long as it’s under my Heywood Cabinet and not taking up real estate in the kitchen, I’m okay using it for certain recipes. Polenta in the Instant Pot is particularly good if you haven’t tried that. When you made polenta on the stovetop it is hands-on stirring for about 30 minutes. So this is a really great way to make it and it is very creamy. I put it in a loaf pan and chill and then cut in slices and fry with a little tamari and then I top with cheese.  So I’m glad I didn’t just get rid of it without giving it some time.  Time is an amazing thing!

I’m going to Costco this morning for a few things and to bring my receipt where I was double charged.  I feel kinda weird about it but I’ll try.

We’re adjusting to life without Bonnie. Rocky seems better than at first. He’s getting a lot of attention, so that helps.

I finished a few really excellent psychological thrillers by Dana French. ” In the woods” and ” Broken Harbor”. She’s a great writer but the stories are dark but compelling. I also picked up a few books at the book exchange at the Cancer clinic. First, this is a terrific idea to have a bookshelf for patients to pick up books and drop off. Kiwanis house has quite a few bookcases thru out their facility and I definitely used them. So I picked up Ernst Hemmingway’s ” A moveable Feast” which was published posthumously. I ‘ve never really like Hemmingway’s stuff but this was really great. It’s a collection of essays about when he lived in Paris in the 1920s. I would highly recommend it. It is a masterpiece of writing.  I’m interested in going back an rereading some of his other books.

I dropped off about 8 books including some very new books I had bought but really didn’t want to keep. Flylady’s new book “CHAOS” was one. And some others too.

We received the first Cobra insurance bill and it’s a whopper.  Part of the bill still has our son on for medical, but that will come off as of 9/1 when his Kaiser Permanente kicks in so there will be another very large bill in August as well. Big as in $1200. Yes, that’s big! But then it should drop by about $600, I think… we’ll see:(

 

RIP Bonnie Doone

Posted in Death, pets, Uncategorized by

Yesterday did not go as planned.  I was getting stuff ready to go to the gym and Home Depot and I noticed some red spots on the concrete patio. I thought it was BBQ sauce as I had just taken in the utensils from the night before, and thought it was a drip.

I called my daughter out and said: “Is this blood”? She said yes and we went to find Bonnie. Now Bonnie is a 14-year-old McNab border collie that she rescued 3 years ago almost exactly. She has been a good dog although she has been an expensive dog with anti-seizure medicine monthly a urinary medicine too. Both have been my daughter’s expenses.

So back to the moment. She looked at her and saw she had blood near her back end and a hole that looked like it was a cyst.  It didn’t look good. So we decided to head to town and think about what to do. We discussed going down to Loomis Basin Vet which has emergency services but decided they would go for testing etc( they are into the money), then the other option was to wait to today, or the third option, call the mobile vet we’ve called before.

We knew Bonnie wasn’t going to improve and it looked like she was in pain and standing funny.  The vet said it was cancer tumors pressing on her chest cavity.

She went peacefully with Sachi petting her head. It’s always a sad day when your friend goes to the rainbow bridge. Over our lifetime, we’ve had many pets and deaths.  It doesn’t get easier but there is more understanding.

Now we are concerned for Rocky, her littermate who is the black and white border collie. He’s been looking for her and seems lost. He’s also deaf so he always took his cues from Bonnie.  So that will be tough. I have a feeling he will go too in the next 6 months. He is after all the same age.

So the day ended up not simple at all and sad.UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_386.jpg

Simple Sunday

Posted in Flylady, Uncategorized by

I overdid it yesterday doing things around the house and yard. It was good to be productive but this morning I feel some pulled muscles so I’ll back off today. I will get in the pool and move around a little and that should help.  This nothing really new. I often end up with aches and pains if I overdo it as my body isn’t used to extra activity.  So today can be a rest day.

This week is the bathroom zone and yesterday I cleaned some of the bins I use to keep things in. Today I’ll wipe the shelves.

It was really hot yesterday too and we actually ate dinner inside since it was @ 96 outside. My daughter made some BBQ chicken, corn and coleslaw. It was yummy.

The week ahead doesn’t look too busy. We see Dr. Abedi on Tuesday and B has his next Chimera test. So that’s exciting. ( I hope!! Then  Thursday my daughter will take him back down to Sacramento to get a boot for his foot.  The MRI, thank goodness, didn’t show any neurological stuff so it is a side effect of the Tacrolimus and he just has to buck up with it till that dose is reduced.

I’m going to the gym this morning to do some weights. Then I want to go over to Home Depot to get a few things.

 

Friday things

Posted in cancer, decluttering, home stuff, husband, MDS, Uncategorized by

We’re off to Sacramento for Clinic and Labs. B still has diarrhea going on but the Predisone and Imodium should help. We think this is a small Graft vs Host going on since he is now off one of the anti-rejection drugs, Mycophenolate.  At least it isn’t getting worse. So, all in all, that’s good.

I had thought to stop at Costco on the way home and I still may do that. It kinda depends on how long we’re at clinic. I really need to get my receipt in there as I was charged twice for 2 things. That’s always awkward as I feel like ‘will they believe me’?? But, like I said, it depends on how I feel and what time we leave Sacto. B just has to sit in the car, so that is something to consider too.

I filled out my LLS reimbursement form using SS for the first time. I probably did it wrong and they’ll kick it back. I found, after I submitted, their list of what was needed and I didn’t copy the cards just the payments, so that’s probably what they’ll need. They can be quite fussy about it but then again, they are giving me money, so I guess it needs to be done to the letter.  I’ll just wait and see 😦

I started emptying the tent trailer and put some things in the barn. I’d like to completely empty it and wipe it down and then evaluate its condition. B likes to take his naps out there so I don’t think we’ll close it completely down.

Well, I guess it’s time to get going!

The gift of LIFE…

Posted in Bone marrow transplant, MDS, Uncategorized by

I have been wanting to write a post about the gift of life that ALLO donors give to their recipients. Many do not even know the person they are giving their stem cells to. It is a truly selfless act of both courage and bravery.

In our case, Barclay’s donor was his younger brother. RPN. Now there is some history here, so I will give a few details. Not a lot of details but some, as it’s complicated.

We have had little or no contact with either of his brothers for almost 20 years. This was mutual. The gist is there was an inheritance involved that was very substantial and the two brothers were included and Barclay was not. They stood by the monetary decision and did not offer to make it more equitable.  A lot of angry words were said and that’s that.

RPN, gave his brother the gift of life, a chance to have some good years ahead and that is priceless. So I can forgive the past simply because of this single act of sacrifice.  What RPN did was courageous and he did not hesitate.  This act was, I think, transformative for me and Barclay on many levels even the cellular one!!!!

The past is the past and I can forgive and move on.

Life is a strange journey and healing the past is always a good thing.

We want to live for Now and what has happened is just part of our history that makes us who we are.

On a bigger platform, to all the people that have been ALLO donors, you are truly heroes and thank you!